GET INSPIRED Black artistic excellence in the District: A year in review AdminDecember 24, 2024034 views Inspired by the 2024 theme for the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH),“African Americans and the Arts,” The Washington Informer used this year to showcase Black artistic excellence in the District and nationwide. Like ASALH, the founders of Black History Month, highlighting African American history and achievements is important year-round for The Informer and 2024 allowed for great exploration of engaging stories about artists of the past and present who are forging paths not only in the arts, but for the world. While we used February to highlight artists, particularly local ones, in theatre, dance, film, music and literature, we also covered shows, events, exhibits and restaurant openings that underscore the breadth of talent in the Black community and African diaspora. 2024 Films “Origins” (Jan. 16, Brenda C. Siler) Ava DuVernay’s new film “Origin,” opening in theaters on Jan. 19, explains how cultural systems worldwide have been formed. (Courtesy photo) Producer and director Parrish Smith with comedian and actor Tommy Davidson on the set for the documentary “The Mecca of Comedy” that examines Black comedy history in D.C. The film now streams on Apple TV, Prime Video and Tubi. (Courtesy of Parrish Smith) After seeing “The Piano Lesson,” faith leaders reflect on the messages and intersection of religious and spiritual practices at Burke Theatre in Northwest D.C. on Nov. 12. The post-screening panel included: the Rev. Cece Jones-Davis, who moderated the conversation, Alfred Street Baptist Church assistant pastors the Rev. Denzel Godlin and the Rev. Ty Jones, and Dr. Kenyatta Gilbert, dean of the Howard University School of Divinity. (Micha Green/The Washington Informer) Michele Norris moderates a conversation with actresses Ebony Obsidian and Kerry Washington, and Tyler Perry, who directed “The Six Triple Eight,” at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture on Nov. 20. The film is now streaming on Netflix. (Micha Green/The Washington Informer) 2024 Television Tyrell Bell and the Belle Singers are in “Gospel” by Henry Louis Gates. (Courtesy of PBS, The Black Church) Roberta Flack’s first album, “First Take,” features the single “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.” (Courtesy of Warner Music Group) 2024 Theater “Tempestuous Elements,” at Arena Stage until March 17, features Gina Daniels as Anna Julia Cooper, principal at the M Street High School in Washington, D.C., in the early 1900s. She advocated for Black students to receive the same classical education as white students. (Courtesy of Tony Powell) Credit: Tony Powell Awa Sal Secka (Bea), Colby N. Muhammad (Vanessa/Sheila/Radia), Melanie Brezill (Michelle/Chrissy/LaNiece), Victoire Charles (Jaja), Bisserat Tseggai (Miriam), Jordan Rice (Marie), Tiffany Renee Johnson (Aminata) and Mia Ellis (Jennifer) star in “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding.” (Courtesy of T. Charles Erickson Photography/Arena Stage) Trey Santiago-Hudson (left) and John Leguizamo are son and father in “The Other Americans,” a family drama at Arena Stage until Nov. 24. (Courtesy of T. Charles Erickson Photography) Step Afrika! celebrated its 30th anniversary with a gala on June 4 at Arena Stage. (Courtesy of Phelan Mark) Jillian Ebanks, Breon Arzell, Max Thomas, Tamieka Chavis and Arlietta Hall star in Second City’s “Dance Like There’s Black People Watching,” running at Woolly Mammoth in Northwest D.C. until Dec. 22. (Courtesy of Teresa Castracane) 2024 Music Jason Moran, artistic director for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, plays Duke Ellington compositions against a backdrop of Gordon Parks photos during “Jason Moran — Solo Ellington” at the Kennedy Center on April 10. (Courtesy of the Kennedy Center) **FILE** Held for the first time at Audi Field in Southwest D.C., many guests celebrated the beauty and boldness of Black and D.C. culture and Broccoli City Festival 2024. (WI photo) Platinum and Grammy-nominated singer Kem performed for two nights with the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center. (Courtesy of Eric Bailey for the Kennedy Center) 2024 Art Exhibitions George Clinton admires the photos from the Parliament-Funkadelic exhibition curated by the D.C. Commission on Arts and Humanities. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer) Gordon Parks, “Muhammad Ali, London, 1966.” National Gallery of Art, Washington, Corcoran Collection (The Gordon Parks Collection) Second-year teacher Blake Pierre’s 2024 painting “Kristos” was one of the many featured artworks at the “Ellington Works: 50 Years and the Next” exhibition. Inspired by Christ-like figures and mythology related to Christ, the portrait interprets the psychological process of enlightenment in human beings. (Jada Ingleton/The Washington Informer) 2024 Restaurants Opening during National Black Restaurant Week, the new Hen Quarter Prime restaurant is located near Audi Field Stadium in the Capital Waterfront area of southwest D.C. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer) Celebrated restaurateur and author Chef Kwame Onwuachi returns to D.C. to create a new restaurant at Salamander Hotel Washington. (Courtesy of Storm Santos) 2024 Events Arena Stage Artistic Director Hana S. Sharif stands in the Kogod Cradle at the landmark institution. (Matthew Bailey/The Washington Informer) Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington CEO and President Shawn Townsend addresses the crowd at the 42nd Annual RAMMYS Awards Gala on July 21. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer) A magical moment to add to the fantasy land created at the Dream Gala for Hour Generation Foundation at Martin Luther King Jr. Library in Northwest D.C. (Jada Ingleton/The Washington Informer) Guests do the electric slide at Le Diner En Blanc-Washington at RFK Stadium on Sept. 21. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer) Source link